Pak's proposed ODI series draws flak

Senior PCB officials were discussing a stop-gap series with South Africa without taking their cricket committee into confidence.

Written by Press Trust of India

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Karachi:

Senior PCB officials are likely to draw flak from the International Cricket Committee of their Board when the Committee meets here on Wednesday to discuss the proposed one-day series in South Africa.

It has been reported that the talks with the South African authorities were initiated without taking the Committee under confidence, which irked the Committee Chairman.

"The meeting has been called by the Chairman of the Committee and another senior member because they want to know why after the resignation of Nasim Ashraf as PCB Chairman they were not consulted for the talks with the South African Cricket Union," one PCB source said.

The Committee is headed by senior banker Ali Reza and includes former Test player Ejaz Butt who is in the run to take over as new Chairman.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Shafqat Naghmi, who is negotiating with the South Africans, had denied overriding the committee though admitted that there was lack of interest among sponsors and broadcasters for the proposed series.

"We are working with the South African board to find sponsorship and sell broadcasting rights. Basically once this is done only then can we decide if we play a tri-series involving Sri Lanka in South Africa from September 12 or go for a bilateral series against the South African team," Naghmi said.

South African captain Graeme Smith has asked his Board to not schedule either a triangular or bilateral series, as the players need some rest before a long season.

Sources say the meeting might see some fireworks because Butt in particular is not happy with the state of affairs in the Board.